Fire-extinguishing arrangement



Nov. 5, 1929. L. WEIDMANN ET AL 1,734,186

FIRE EXTINGUISHING ARRANGEMENT Filed July 12, 1927 l Patented Nov. 5, 1929 PATENT OFFICE LUCIEN WEIDMANN AND ERNESTE TITTEL, OF BASEL, SWITZERLAND FIRE-EXTINGUISHING ARRANGEMENT Application filed July 12, 1927, Serial No.

This invention relates to a fire-extinguishing arrangement in which, at a conflagration, an extinguishing fluid is used for extinguishing the lire. The arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that a shutting oif disk, which normally shuts off the passage for the extinguishing fluid, has around a fusible portion an electric heating Wire which is inserted in a circuit to be automatically closed when a conflagration occurs, so that the heating wire is heated by the electric-current and causes fusing at the. fusing point of the cutting oif disk, so that the outflow for the fluid is liberated.

The circuit is preferably closed at a conflagration by means of a mercury-contactdevice which, when being heated, closes, owing to the expansion of the mercury, two contact-poles in the circuit.

In the circuit an electric-alarm may be arranged.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 shows in longitudinal section a conduit for water under pressure in which an element of the arrangement is mounted.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows diagrammatically the total arrangement.

As extinguishing-fluid ordinary water under pressure from a water-main 1 is used. Close to the outlet of the water-main 1 a disk 2 (Fig. 1) is arranged which normally shuts off the water-main and is placed over the end of the water-pipe like a cap. A cylindrical central portion 3 of disk 2 has preferably a thinner wall than the body proper of the disk and further an annular flange 1 by means of which the disk is securely held in the waterpipe 1 between two pieces of the pipe which are screwed the one into the other. The shutting oif cap 2, 4 is made of a material which is resistant to the water-pressure but easily fusible, as for instance celluloid.

Around the cylindrical portion 3 of disk 2 an electric heating wire 5 is placed which is bent to form a ring not completely closed, the two ends of the wire 5 projecting from 205,185, and in Switzerland July 14, 1926.

the pipe and being connected to a circuit 6 (Fig. 3).

When an electric-current flows through the heating wire 5, the heating wire is heated and causes at the points where it bears on the cylindrical portion 3 of disk 2 fusing of this portion so that the disk 2 is torn off under the pressure of the water along its circumference, remaining however attached to the. ring-shaped portion 3 at the point which corresponds to the open portion of the ringshaped heating wire (Fig. 2), so that the water can flow out.

The circuit 6 is closed by means of a mercury-contact-tube 7 (Fig. 3) the mercury in which, expanding at a confiagration and owing to the increasingtemperature, closes the circuit at the two contact poles 8 and 9. In the circuit 6 an electric alarm-bell 10 is mounted so that an alarm-signal is given at the closing of the circuit.

Instead of water under pressure any other liquid or gaseous fire-extinguishing fluid may be used.

The shutting off disk-device might be used on any fire extinguishing apparatus; it is of very simple construction and of secure and rapid effect.

We claim:

1. A fire extinguishing arrangement comprising in combination a pressure conduit for extinguishing fluid, a disk having a body portion normally closing said conduit, a marginal portion clamped to the conduit and an intervening fusible portion, an electric heating wire nearly but not completely surrounding said fusible portion of the disk, an electric circuit to which said heating wire is connected, and means for automatically closing said circuit when a conflagration occurs so that current flowing through the heating wire will fuse that part of the fusible portion of the disk engaged by the wire, leaving an intact part connecting the separated body of the disk with the clamped marginal portion and on which the disk body may swing to open the conduit for fluid flow.

2. A fire extinguisher of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein the fusible portion who: disk is relatively thinner than the disk 87A fire extinguisher of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein the marginal and fusible portions of the disk and the heating wire are clam ed between the opposed faces of two couple conduit sections.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

LUOIEN WEIDMANN. ERNESTE TITTEL. 

